Disappearing santa in chimney



Dec. 8, 1964 A. RUBENS DISAPPEARING SANTA IN CHIMNEY :5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 16, 1960 v INVENTOR.

fl/mvzp 5035245 JTTO/ZA/EY Dec. 8, 1964 RUBENS 3,159,935

DISAPPEARING SANTA IN CHIMNEY Fi led' Aug. 16, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 2175N0 D EUBZZ VS' Dec. 8, 1964 A. RUBENS DISAPPEARING SANTA IN CHIMNEY 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 16, 1960 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,159,935 DISAPIEARING SANTA IN CY Arneld Rubens,Display Arts, Inn, 6% W. 57th St,

' New York, N31. Filed Aug. 16, 196i), Ser. No. 45,963 1 Claim. (Cl.4ii--1ii6.31)

This invention relates to display devices and, more particularly, to ananimated display device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an animated displaydevice which can be attractively used for various display andentertainment purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an animateddisplay device in the form of a disappearing Santa Claus in a chimneywhich is extremely attractive in appearance, novel in operation, andwhich will attract the attention of young and old persons alike.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide adisappearing type animated display device in which pneumatic pressure isused to actuate the simulated doll element thereof for movement betweenan outwardly extended visible position and an inwardly retractedenclosed position.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide ananimated display device of the type described which can be manufacturedin large quantities at a relatively low cost, and which can be readilyinstalled in any desired location.

. All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an animated display device made inaccordance with the present invention, with the parts in an outwardlyextended position;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIGURE 1,illustrating the manner in which the parts are moved toward a retractedposition;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the mechanism made inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of theassembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 5--5 ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 66 ofFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of certainparts of the assembly shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken along line 99of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken alongline 1ti10 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken alongline 11-11 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional perspective viewtaken along line 1212 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawing, an animated display device 10 made inaccordance with the present invention is shown to include an animateddoll 12 in the form of a Santa Claus which includes a Santa Clausuniform, simulated head, and hat. This doll is supported within asimulated chimney 14 for reciprocating movement between a normallyinwardly retracted position and an outwardly extended position in amanner hereinafter more fully described.

With reference now to FIGURE 5 of the drawing, a doll uniform 12 isshown to be secured by its bottom end to a rigid base 16 having a topwall 20. This base 16 is supported upon a frame 18 within the simulatedchimney 14, as shown in FIGURE 4.

An inflatable bag 22, of any desired material, is enclosed within'thedoll uniform 12 and is provided with a bottom flange 24 that is securedto the top plate 20 of the base 16 by means of a mounting plate 25having a central opening 28 in alignment with a central opening 34} inthe top plate 20 of the base. A telescoping shaft assembly having aplurality of telescoping sections 32, 34,

35, 38, is secured at one loweremost end by means of a cross pin 33within the central opening 30 of the base plate 20. The opposite end ofthe telescoping assembly is secured by means of a nut 40 to theuppermost end of the inflatable bag 22 adjacent to the simulated head ofthe doll uniform 12. Thus, the telescoping shaft. assembly accommodatesthe extension and retraction of the simulated doll during use.

The mounting plate 26 is also provided with an eccentric opening 42which is in alignment with the outlet 46 of a centrifugal type blower 48mounted within an eccentric opening 44 of the base plate 20 by means ofa clamp structure 45. This blower 48 is supplied with air from anopening 52 in the side of the base 16, which air enters the blowerthrough an inlet 50. The blower is driven by the drive shaft of a motor52 electrically connected to a source of electrical energy, such as anelectrical supply line 62 through a safety switch 64. Operation of themotor 52 is controlled by a pressure sensitive switch 55 having anoperating lever 54 that serves as a follower in contact with theperiphery of a cam wheel 56 mounted upon the shaft 58 of a slow rotatingmotor 60. This motor 60 is also connected to the source of electricalenergy 62 through the safety switch 64.

It will now be recognized that upon connecting the supply line 62 to asuitable source of electrical energy, and closing the safety switch 64,the timing motor 60 will be energized, thus rotating the cam wheel 56and periodically closing the follower lever 54 of the pressure sensitiveswitch 55. This switch 55 controls energization of the motor 52, so thatupon the closing of the switch 55, the motor 52 will actuate the blower48 to inflate the bag 22, thus causing the simulated doll uniform 12 toextend outwardly through the upper end of the simulated chimney 14, inthe manner shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4. As soon as the cam wheel 56 hasrotated an additional amount, so that the follower 54 passes the crestthereof, the motor 52 is denergized, thus allowing the bag 22 to deflateso that the doll under the influence of gravity will return to acollapsed position within the simulated chimney 14 until the nextenergization of the motor 52. It will be observed that the telescopingshaft sections serve as a guide means for directing the extending andretracting movements of the simulated doll between the respectivepositions. It will now be appreciated that this device can be readilyinstalled as a window display, as a building display, or the like, in anextremely novel and attractive manner. 7

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

An animated display device comprising,

(a) a housing open at its top,

(b) a hollow base horizontally supported in the hous- (c) an inflatablebag secured in air-tight engagement to the upper surface of said base,

(d) a flexible cover simulating a person surrounding said inflatable bagand secured to said base, i

(e) a multi-sectional telescoping tubular guide and support rod rigidlysecured at the lower end of its lowermost section to the center of saidbase, and at the upper end of its uppermost section-to the top of saidinflatable bag, said telescoping guide and support rod positionedaxially within said inflatable bag,

(I) a blower within said base having its discharge outlet fitted withinan opening in the upper surface of said base,

(g) an electric motor within said base for driving said blower,including a control circuit,

(h) a cam within said base driven by said electric motor coacting with aswitch means providing a timed sequence in the operation of said controlcircuit to provide for the intermittent inflation of said inflatable bagand to permit deflation thereof,

(i) an air inlet passage in a side wall of said hollow base forsupplying air to said blower, and

(j) a safety switch connected in said control circuit to render the sameoperative to energize or de-energize said electric motor, whereby, whensaid electric motor is energized, the blower will inflate saidinflatable bag to cause the same with its flexible cover, to riseupwardly through the open top of said h0using, and when de-energized,said inflatable bag will deflate and collapse under the effect ofgravity with its flexible cover within said housing, the rising andcollapse of the inflatable bag being guided and supported by thetelescoping action of the telescoping guide and support rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS978,489 Salmond Dec. 13, 1910 2,208,445 Bates .Q. July 16, 19402,348,250 Gardneret al. May 9, 1944 2,593,188 Rikelrnan Apr. 15, 19522,597,985 Grossu May 27, 1952 2,680,316 Webster et al. June 8, 1954FOREIGN PATENTS 760,230 Great Britain Oct. 31, 1956 Germany Mar. 26,1959

